HOW'S YOUR MONKEY?

Wow. I have so much going on which is great as long as I keep organized, centered and CLEAR. Before I post about two free and open to the public presentations that I have scheduled this month I want to write about something that whacked me (again) right in the head/mind yesterday.

MONKEY MIND

The monkey mind (kapicitta) is a term sometimes used by the Buddha to describe the agitated, easily distracted and incessantly moving behaviour of ordinary human consciousness (Ja.III,148; V,445). Once he observed: ‘Just as a monkey swinging through the trees grabs one branch and lets it go only to seize another, so too, that which is called thought, mind or consciousness arises and disappears continually both day and night.’ (S.II,95). 

I don't know how many times I have told people about the therapeutic aspects of making art in nature, specifically mandalas. For me and for just about every person that I have brought out into nature to create, the process frees the mind of useless chatter. Gathering objects, clearing space and constructing art focuses and clears the mind. You are placed IN the environment, IN the creative flow and IN the NOW. There is no time, there is simply space.

Yesterday I made an afternoon visit to Massasoit State Park with my four legged foraging buddy Sr. Benjito. I have been there before but am not very familiar with the trails. I printed a map before leaving the house but we stuck to the main road and nearby side paths. I wanted to check out the landing area at the far pond and if I had the time, make some EnviroArt.

I am a person that notices things, especially thoughts. (The first step is to NOTICE THEM.) Sometimes I am in better control of my thinking but lately I have been doing way too much multi-tasking and bouncing from topic to task to thought to "to do" list to ARGH! It has been as if my mind has been "Running on Dunkin's" caffeine. (An appropriate reference as today is National Donut Day.)

(How do people live like this? I really don't know how they add radio and tv and YAHOO news and FB trending to their already over stimmed minds. No wonder people are so stressed out and on meds.) Anyway...

Lately I haven't given myself enough nature time and my Monkey Mind has been gaining control. As we walked to the landing I recognized that my thoughts were not on where I was at all. I had driven over 20 minutes to this beautiful park but my mind was  NOT THERE. We walked over 30 minutes to the landing and I was thinking all the way. Oh such a busy mind.

When we got to the pond I said out loud, "I am so out of practice." I stopped, sat myself down on a bench and looked out over the water. "Relax, take the time, BE here."

I listened to the birds and the leaves rustling in the trees. "How did I stay away so long?"

WRONG QUESTION. The response to that question would have had my mind busy for hours. Don't ask, Don't tell. Just BE quiet.

I secured the dog and kicked around in the the pine needles noticing and observing the things that were lying on the forest floor. I picked up a pine branch, snapped it and held it to my nose. The scent of the sappy wood was intoxicating and nothing like any commercial product ever invented. It was and is REAL PINE. I floated into childhood memories. I noticed the shapes of the different varieties of cones on the ground and broken sticks and branches and.... I bent down to pick up the ones that spoke to me.  Before I knew it I had cleared a space and began to construct an earth mandala. It took quite awhile before I even noticed that my monkey had simply and easily disappeared. POOF! Like magic he had VANISHED. My mind did not wander to any thought other than the ART at hand; the colors, shapes, aromas and textures of the materials and where to place them. I was in blissful peace.

The sun was lowering in the sky evidenced by the shadows on the mandala so I knew we needed to start hiking to the parking lot. I shot a few final photos, unhooked the dog and began the walk back and... HELLO MONKEY - HE'S BACK! Ah but I was in far better control this time. I could consciously brush him aside and return to the sensations of the breeze and sun on my skin and sounds around me. I needed to this this over and over and over again. When you condition yourself out of the NOW it takes practice to get back in. The first step is... to notice.

What about you? How's your Monkey? Do you think he needs a vacation from your mind? YES! Do you need some help centering and focusing? I invite you to go to my website GETIN2NATURE.COM and to the MEETUP GROUP group and join for free (if you just want to be on a mailing list send me a mail) and take an EnviroArt workshop. It will do you good. Then go out on your own and leave your Monkey at home.

PATRICIA’S UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS

Free and Open to the Public

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June 9th – 6:30 pm – Quest House – Easton, MA

“Making Mandalas in the Wild”

Moss is not just moss and pine cones are not just pine cones. To an EcoArtist they are paints and textures to be skillfully combined in an organic piece of earth art. Join Patt Gilmore for a photographic tour and presentation of nature mandalas. From North to South America these images are sure to inspire you to get outside and have fun creating.

Patricia is an environmental artist and therapist that works internationally. Her photographs have appeared in national art exhibitions. In 2014 she created the first Ames Mansion mandala in Easton. Her site specific land art is scattered throughout the USA and beyond.

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June 27 – 3 pm – Borderland State Park – Easton, MA

“Sticks & Cones on Paving Stones

Learn about the fun and inventive process behind the making of the very first Ames Mansion Mandala in the fall of 2014. The 6 foot nature art installation was created for the 12th annual Blanche Ames National Art Exhibition and almost all of the elements of design were found right at Borderland State Park.

The woods and trails hold so many colors and textures. After the presentation you are invited to join Patricia on a short trail walk where she will point out many of nature’s paints that work really well in creating earth art.

Patricia Gilmore is a local environmental artist that works internationally. Her site specific land art is scattered throughout New England and beyond. Recently she returned from making and photographing nature mandalas in South America. Several images of her earth art creations can be found in her ISSUU book “Nature Mandalas within an Urban Landscape.”

HOT OFF THE DIGITAL PRESSES

I haven't been posting for a few weeks as I have been busy creating a new website and book. I will share about the website another day. Today I want to shout out the book. The book is a compilation of images of the nature mandalas that I have made in the urban parks of Buenos Aires, Argentina contrasted against city scenes. You can view the complete book by clicking the link below the cover photo or by going to the top of this blog. I have embedded the viewing link in the blog's top border.

Making Mandalas in Urban Parks

LINK TO BOOK

(wait for the photos to load)

I hope you enjoy it.

In less than two weeks I will be on USA soil again. I have enjoyed my time here in Argentina and am looking forward to getting back into my New England woods.

Until soon....
Patt

PS: I will shout it out later but for the impatient ones here's the link for a sneak peak at the new site.
getin2nature.com

Chau 4 Now....

LEAD YOUR CHILDREN

As you know I am passionate about connecting people back into nature. I am especially concerned about adults. That right, ADULTS. Adults are the leaders of the community and the teachers in our schools, the parents and caregivers of our children, the heads of the family. You can enroll kids in programs which is wonderful (if they exist in your community) but becoming the personal leader and role model for your own children or grandchildren is even better. First you need to reconnect. The rest will follow naturally (no pun intended). When was the last time you played and made art in the woods? Let me guide you.

When you get back out foraging and creating in the woods or beachcombing on the shores you will become revitalized and more alive. Creating art in nature is energizing, therapeutic and gives you a huge healthy dose of VITAMIN "N".

AN ENCHANTING PATH @ BORDERLAND

Here is a wonderful interview with Richard Louv, author of The Nature Principle, Last Child in the Woods, The Web of Life and other books. Louv shares a hopeful message for every area of life from more productive workplaces, to better classroom learning and healing of our nature-starved spirits..

Subscribe to this blog to keep abreast of UPCOMING WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS and ADULT ECO THERAPY DAYS.

Also visit and LIKE, SHARE and INVITE YOUR FRIENDS to the FACEBOOK PAGE,

Check back often and LET'S GET GOING >>> OUTSIDE.

Don't delay. New England schedules are being created NOW.

GIVE US MORE

There are more ways to connect to nature art. I have been busy creating social media pages. We now have this blog that you can subscribe to (I am putting that in red...the subscribe option is on the right sidebar>>>) and you can also subscribe to the YOUTUBE channel. Last week I added a Facebook Artist Page. Please check it out. Hit the LIKE button and invite your friends to do the same. I will be posting video links, photo images and more beauty and inspiration. Plus each TAPPED IN TUESDAY I will be highlighting another environmental artist that is tapped into the flow. There are so many amazing artists bringing their own style and sense of wonder to this important work that connects humanity back to their roots in nature. I am truly excited to be a part of this movement. Just scroll down the FACEBOOK page to find the Tuesday posts. Last week I highlighted Andy Goldsworthy - a master site specific artist. Look for the link to a full HD documentary and click in - tap in.You won't be disappointed.

MANDALA*EARTH*ART FACEBOOK PAGE LINK

MAKING THE WESTPORT MANDALA - SPRING 2014

I have a few media projects in process. I am editing some short videos. One is about making the WESTPORT MANDALA last year. Also as I am winding down (or up) in Argentina I am compiling the photos of the smaller earth art creations that bloomed here. I also am putting together a WOMANDALA video. That may have to wait to be finished in May as it involves recording a narration voice over. It is easy to stay busy.


Earth Day is April 22nd. I am looking for area artists to participate in a larger work. I am also pulling people together for evening group paint. Did I write I was winding down? Actually I am gearing UP for my New England return. I want to hit those woods running (rather foraging) muddy hiking boots and all.

I want to wish you all a Happy Saint Patrick's Day. I was named after St Patrick. My birthday is so close (March 21st - the first FULL day of spring in New England). I am also wishing my kinsmen and women some snow melting and sunny warm days.

ERIN GO GREEN!

HASTA LUEGO!

UNTIL NEXT TIME!

tumbler coming soon...

NATURE ART ON YOUTUBE

I am pleased to announce that MANDALA*EARTH*ART now has a youtube channel. Over the course of the last few days I have uploaded a few very short videos to get things started. Many more videos are coming and some super longer surprises too. Check out the new channel and subscribe. You will be notified by email each time a new video is published.

VIEW THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Also remember to subscribe to this blog. On the right sidebar is a FOLLOW BY EMAIL - SUBSCRIBE field. Just type in your email address and a box should appear from feedburner asking you to put in a jumbled code. Do so and submit and an email confirmation will come to your email inbox. Just open the mail and click the link inside to confirm. It is as easy as that. You won't get any SPAM. You will only get an email when I make a brand new post to the blog.

Below is a happy little video to remind those in the northern hemisphere that color does exist under all that snow. I will be in New England in May and part of June giving talks and facilitating workshops, making art, photographing and preparing for art shows. To keep abreast of all the happenings subscribe to this blog and visit often.

I also want to let you know that if you desire a private workshop for your organization, camp, school, association or your personal friends please write me. I have half and full day programs available and can customize a short or long presentation. My area is not limited to New England. In fact, I am typing this post from South America. >>>> My email address is on the right sidebar. >>>>

Enjoy the video. It is a joyful 2 minute smile.
Until next time....
All the best
Patt

777 ROCK HEARTS

I took a little break from the big city of Buenos Aires and headed over the river to calming Uruguay for a week. I spent the majority of my time climbing up and down the hills in and around the coastal town of Piriapolis. I had fantastic weather and had hoped to make some nature mandalas in the hills but this year the season is very dry and except for the eucalyptus leaves there was little to forage from the ground. I did however hike along the rocky coast and created a few mandalas out of mussel shells.

On the last night in town I meet up with an old friend and we went to see Guillermo Busch's art exhibition "777 Piedras Corazon" (777 Rock Hearts). He has been gathering heart-shaped rocks, stones and pebbles for many years. Spirit surely inspires and guides this artist. I especially loved the installments that looked into little environments of colors, light and shapes. What a lovely sense of whimsy and love of nature. I feel so happy that I went to the exhibit. I was allowed to take photos and I am including my favorites below. I have watermarked them. I thought to make Valentine's Day cards out of them as tomorrow is that LOVEly day but today it seemed a bit schmaltzy so I am leaving them as I shot them - perfect!

 

 

If you are in the area check out the show. It is at the

Pabellón de las Rosas

Until next time - Let Nature and Art Recreate You.
WIFI NOT NEEDED!

Stay tuned for more information about Meditation and Mandala Making Workshops coming in New England's late spring. After all that snow melts.

DID THE PATRIOTS MAKE ME HOMESICK?

CONGRATULATIONS PATS - WELL DONE :) The New England Patriots won another Super Bowl last night. I caught the game at a local watering hole here in San Telmo. I am still searching for my physical voice this morning.

I have been busy making mandalas and playing in the few natural spaces here in the area. In just two days I head off to Uruguay for a week. I am hoping for great weather as the last few times I have visited things were pretty rained out, such as roads! There is a town on the coast named Piriapolis with a big hill called the Cerro San Antonio. I hope to climb up it. I will tell you of the legend in a future post. Wish me some dry days to get to the top. In the meantime, here are some pretty little mandalas made on the costanera sur here in Buenos Aires. I have also entered them in the NATURE GALLERY page (link in the right side bar).

EUCALYPTUS LEAVES & SYCAMORE SEED PODS

Below one of the elements I happily found were leaves from the Tulip Tree. The first time I knowingly encountered a tulip tree was at Borderland State Park in Easton, MA where I created the seven foot mandala art installation last fall. There's one tree on the main trail by the farm house and another by the Ames Mansion. Check them out if you live nearby. Bring snowshoes or cross country skis. Actually you better wait. It is s deciduous tree. You would have a hard time finding the trees without their distinctive leaves or tulip like flowers. 

 

I admit that I have been - hmmm - not sure if this is the correct word or not - HOMESICK for my native New England woods but in all practicality they are under snow and more is on the way. Please hold up the fort for me and watch your back. Warm up those muscles before and after you shovel!

I will be back soon, after the melt!

Need some help with that back? Check out my other blog for my private practice and workshops. This is a post to help you with that back spasm. Click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by! Hasta Pronto - Until Soon.